VA RIGHT TO OK POT USE IN STATES WHERE IT'S LEGAL

Veterans will no longer have to choose between state-sanctioned
medical marijuana and pain medications prescribed by VA physicians.

The decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to allow
patients to use medical marijuana in the 14 states where it is legal,
including Colorado, is a humane and just call.

As it stood, VA patients who followed state guidelines and legally
used marijuana were at risk of being denied pain medications. That's
because the VA has rules barring illegal drug use by patients who are
taking pain medicine, and marijuana is still illegal under federal
law.

The concern was that veterans might have to choose between the relief
they find in medical marijuana and using the VA medical system.

We're glad the VA took this tack, and we think it's in keeping with
the Obama administration's law enforcement policy on medical marijuana.

Last October, the Justice Department issued a memorandum directing
U.S. attorneys to steer clear of prosecuting people who are using
medical marijuana in "clear and unambiguous compliance with existing
state laws."

Attorney General Eric Holder made clear, however, that going after
commercial enterprises that were unlawfully marketing and selling
marijuana was to remain a priority.

The VA's new policy, spelled out in a letter earlier this month, is in
keeping with that stance.

"If a veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner
consistent with state law, testing positive for marijuana would not
preclude the veteran from receiving opioids for pain management" in a
VA clinic or hospital.

The decision to prescribe drugs to a veteran ought to be made on a
medical basis, the letter said. The letter also made clear that VA
doctors could decline to prescribe painkillers if they thought there
would be an adverse interaction between medical marijuana and another
drug.

In Colorado, we've had several concerns with the way the legalization
of medical marijuana has played out over the last year.

First, we don't believe the system that has emerged comports with the
constitutional amendment voters approved in 2000. But we've also taken
issue with what we believe is a widespread effort to game the system,
as legions of people have claimed severe chronic pain to obtain
medical marijuana cards and "get legal."

However, we're not too worried that those who abuse the system would
get an advantage out of the VA decision.

While there always are people who can manipulate their way into
obtaining pain medicine, by and large those who are getting a
legitimate prescription for a narcotic painkiller have faced rigorous
conditions and controls for getting that medication.

The decision by the VA merely allows these sick and injured
individuals to use legitimately obtained medical marijuana to ease
their pain without fear.